Germany vs Spain: Handball Euros 2024 – Result & Highlights

After the German handball players had passed the European Championship test, national coach Alfred Gislason rushed onto the floor and gave his protégés a relieved high five. With a convincing 34:32 (17:15) against Spain, the DHB selection averted the historic elimination in the preliminary round and raised new hopes for a medal. The team even takes two plus points into the main round.

“Everything was possible in the group. We believed in ourselves that we could progress with a clear win,” said captain Johannes Golla on ZDF. “But we have to thank the Austrians,” he added, referring to the help from their neighbor who defeated Serbia. “We believed in ourselves, discussed a lot of things and implemented it today. Now it’s going to be tough. We’re looking forward to it.”

Goalkeeper Andreas Wolff raved about a “super team performance”. “I’m relieved and proud of the boys. Attack and defense were outstanding,” summed up Gislason. The strong second goalkeeper David Späth said: “We have decided to make up for something and move forward. We managed to put the Serbia game out of our minds. We two goalkeepers are a super team, no matter who is on the table.”

In front of 9,526 spectators in Herning, Renars Uscins was the best scorer for the German team with eight goals, which was spared the debacle that loomed after the bitter Serbia defeat a year before the home World Cup. The second phase of the tournament continues on Thursday against either world champion and Olympic champion Denmark or fourth-placed Portugal.

With 4:2 points, the Olympic runner-up in Group A was ahead of the Spaniards with the same points due to the direct comparison won and can still hope for their first European Championship medal since the gold triumph ten years ago at the finals in Denmark, Norway and Sweden.

The success against Spain also secured the national coach’s job for the time being. If Gislason, whose contract is valid until after the 2027 World Cup, had failed for the first time in the preliminary round, it would hardly have been possible to keep him in office. The 66-year-old Icelander can now gather arguments for himself as the tournament progresses.

The starting position for the group final against Spain was clear. Because Serbia previously lost against Austria with 25:26, a draw would have been enough for the DHB selection to advance. An advantage for the German team, which would have had to win by three goals if the Serbians had won.

For the decisive duel, Gislason did without Rune Dahmke and Franz Semper and instead nominated Berlin’s Matthes Langhoff and Nils Lichtlein. From the start it was a competitive and exciting game in which the DHB team was always a small step ahead of the opponent. After 20 minutes, Germany was ahead by three goals for the first time at 12:9.

Experienced goalkeeper Wolff played a major role in this with some spectacular saves that caused the numerous German fans to cheer. The German team also acted much more efficiently in attack than in the previous games against Austria (30:27) and Serbia (27:30). Backcourt ace Uscins in particular was difficult for the Spaniards to deal with.

Even after the change, the DHB selection acted with a lot of speed and confidence in attack. But the rival could not be shaken off. As in the 2024 Olympic semi-finals, which Germany won 25:24, the two two-time European champions fought a duel on equal terms.

On the German side, David Späth replaced Wolff between the posts after 40 minutes, but despite a few saves, he didn’t become an X-factor. Ten minutes before the end, Germany was still ahead by three goals at 28:25. Ten minutes before the end it was 28:25, after which the DHB team safely secured the valuable victory.

Note: This article has been updated.